My first love is (besides my family which always comes first ;) www.Gymbohaven.com - a line identification and informational site for moms who love the Gymboree brand clothing. I started the site years ago for myself but it just grew out of control and into Gymbohaven. Our newsletter goes out to 12,000+ moms right now :)

My second love is reading - as you can tell on the far right, there's tons of books I've read, reviewed, reading at the moment and wanting to read. Let me know your thoughts on them!

My last love is collecting fairies - the rocker kind. I've got the coolest collection thanks to my family and friends. Mike even got me one from England when he was stationed over there and its all pewter and stands about 12inches high.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa caught in the act in his or her very own home. iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos.

In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself.

I'm a huge Santa fan which is why we instantly fell in LOVE with iCaughtSanta.com.

Friday, December 9, 2011

THANK YOU to everyone who participated, shared our links, donated, sent letters and more!! We were able to get all the things below for the troops and for the kids this year. Lets hope they are all home for the holidays next year!!

AGAIN THANK YOU!!

GameStop and VideoGamesEtc came together for me and we were able to get... a 4G Xbox360Slim, 4 controllers, 6 games, 1 Wii system, 4 games, remote charger, wheel/accessories. With Build A Bears help - 25 Build A Bears to send back home to the kids on base!!

This holiday season, Build-A-Bear Workshop® is inviting you and your family to get your wish on. With brand-new furry friends from the latest holiday movies, classic and celebrity characters, hi-tech Kinect enabled bears, gifts that give back, holiday traditions, customized presents and fun stocking stuffers, Build-A-Bear Workshop will be on everyone's wish list this year. From those searching for the perfect stuffed animal for that special someone to a child discovering the joy of creating a personalized furry friend, Build-A-Bear Workshop invites you to check out the array of gift options that are sure to bring smiles long after the season is over.

Here are some of our favorite things about Build-a-Bear Workshop this season:

One of the best things about Build-A-Bear Workshop is the opportunity to make or buy a unique gift, add a customized, signature sound or embroidered message and give it to someone special. From newlyweds to new parents, sports fans to foodies, tweens to tough guys, Build-A-Bear Workshop has something for everyone and every budget.

What could be more personal than LIVE elves, ready to talk to your child about his/her wishlist? Thanks to our friends at Build-A-Bear Workshop, your family has a direct line to Santa and his little helpers! By visiting http://play.buildabear.com/, your child can create their own wish list with one of Santa's elves and tell them what they want for Christmas! Parental agreement is needed for all children under 13.

Who doesn't love a great deal, especially during the holidays? Build-A-Bear Workshop knows Moms want to stretch our "bear bucks" as much as possible, which is why they're introducing a great promotion this season. Starting today through 12/18/11, you can purchase any animal PLUS any outfit for just $24.99 (USD). That's a great price for a friend that will last a lifetime!

I also want to say that Build-A-Bear donated bears to our troops kids back home AGAIN this year. We want to thank them... they are cherished each year we can work with them!! THANK YOU BAB!!

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Build-A-Bear Workshop gift card in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Holiday presents don't need to be store bought or expensive to be meaningful. Homemade gifts are perfect for gift-giving and spreading holiday cheer. This year, Karo has partnered with Chicago pastry chef and cookbook author Sarah Levy to create delicious treats that are the perfect gift to give this holiday season.

Karo Syrup wants to celebrate all holiday baking recipes! Consumers who share their favorite recipe to bake in Karo's Recipe Sweepstakes are entered to win a special New Year's Eve package in Chicago, including a two-night stay at the Wit Hotel, dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse and a chocolate tour. Visit the "Tis the Season" tab atwww.Facebook.com/KaroSyrup to share your recipe, enter to win this fabulous trip and see some of Sarah Levy's favorite holiday recipes.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Karo Syrup prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanks to our friends Hellmann's®* and Best Foods®, chicken recently got a makeover. If you participated in the first-ever Chicken Challenge, a series of head-to-head chicken dish challenges that helped moms diversify their weekly recipe repertoire, you know that Hellmann's® transforms chicken into a juicy, crispy, delicious meal. The reigning recipe champion, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, has been making an appearance on dinner tables across the country.

Now it's turkey's turn.

With the holidays right around the corner, Hellmann's® is continuing their mission against mealtime monotony by encouraging moms to re-think their main dish meals and leftovers. And this time, they've enlisted the help of an expert on all things food, Chef Bobby Flay! Together, they are offering easy, delicious recipes, such as Turkey Casserole, that are great for the busy holiday season.

Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle to join the Hellmann's® Turkey Challenge each week at Hellmanns.com* as Turkey Casserole goes head-to-head with other tasty, juicy turkey recipes, like Bobby Flay's "Stuffing" Crusted Turkey Cutlet. All you have to do is cast your vote for your favorite to be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four $250 grocery gift cards each week.** If there are more than 10,000 entries, the prize value doubles to a $500 grocery gift card! **

I know the moms are excited, one saw the box and started doing the eye bug!! Now to get them all over this weekend after the holidays and watch Cars II and let the kids try all the tooth stuff out after eating all the popcorn LOL

Saturday, November 19, 2011

We have the xbox 360 and kinnect at home. We've had it for a year now and it gets used slightly. Why... cause there hasn't been any games out there that have interested Amber or myself. Until now. Just Dance 3 and Zumba!!

This is what the games look like

Now Zumba was HARD - no doubt about it, it will take me some time to get there. There was a learning stage for all the moves, that goes fast too. Then the play zumba stage and there's a 4min warm up... that's as far as I got LMAO. Now Melissa and Ann both kept going, along with Amber. They were a movin'. Melissa felt like she got a good workout and wants to keep doing it each day. I'd like to learn the moves more and practice before starting the dancing.

If you could slow the moves down with a motion of your hand so the tempo slowed and sped up as you liked that would be great - Melissa's comment

Learning the moves - seemed ok at first

And the moves just got faster...

And then the fun started... a 4min warm up... now no laughin

FINALLY the dance started...

That was it for Zumba... wow a workout learning the moves and the warmup - the dancing was hard.

WOW - LOVED this!! Just Dance 3 was awesome. The moves are not hard, its funny if you mess up. The screen shows you the moves - there's a bar on either side to show you how each player is doing with their moves (good, excellent will show up) and on the top left you can see yourselfs in solid color to see if your in the screen sensor area.

They did three songs from this. Ann was wiped out, so that left Melissa and Amber. Wanna watch?

The first dance

So you can see the screen too

They had this cool Halloween dance on there lol

Party Rock Anthem!

OK all in all - Dance 3 was the best!! It'll take me a bit to get Zumba down but I'm gonna keep tryin'. The trees will be down too so we'll have more room LOL

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Ok so Amber picked this up the other day. She wanted to read it, but I'm old fashion, I read them first. Sorry I don't want her reading things she really doesn't need to be exposed to.

This one has them all - fairies, vampires, werewolves, witches and warlocks. Its a mix of other books I've read - it has the school they all attend, the groundskeeper, the headmistress, the single human mom and the missing warlock dad - one large secret to keep figuring out AND a love triangel lol. Its all basic witch book stuff.

The author does skip ahead in the middle of the book - which i guess I'm thankful for and you dont loose anything for it. It just makes the book keep moving faster. Most authors don't do it, they drag it on lol.

I was expecting from the info on the back cover that we were going to go through her finding out she's a witch - instead we jump right in with both feet and she knows she's a witch, shes trying out her powers and wow what a mess.

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I like it for Amber... and yes now that I've read it, I'm onto book two - Demonglass - hmm maybe that should have been the title for the last book!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thanks to our friends Hellmann's®* and Best Foods®, chicken recently got a makeover. If you participated in the first-ever Chicken Challenge, a series of head-to-head chicken dish challenges that helped moms diversify their weekly recipe repertoire, you know that Hellmann's® transforms chicken into a juicy, crispy, delicious meal. The reigning recipe champion, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, has been making an appearance on dinner tables across the country.

Now it's turkey's turn.

With the holidays right around the corner, Hellmann's® is continuing their mission against mealtime monotony by encouraging moms to re-think their main dish meals and leftovers. And this time, they've enlisted the help of an expert on all things food, Chef Bobby Flay! Together, they are offering easy, delicious recipes, such as Turkey Casserole, that are great for the busy holiday season.

Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle to join the Hellmann's® Turkey Challenge each week at Hellmanns.com* as Turkey Casserole goes head-to-head with other tasty, juicy turkey recipes, like Bobby Flay's "Stuffing" Crusted Turkey Cutlet. All you have to do is cast your vote for your favorite to be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four $250 grocery gift cards each week.** If there are more than 10,000 entries, the prize value doubles to a $500 grocery gift card! **

Saturday, November 5, 2011

I just finished Passion from the Fallen series. WOW its the best book yet! I love how Luce goes through time, through the announcers, and relives her past lives. There are several and each one is unique, the get more and more involved each time, learning more about herself and her love with Daniel. Its more about what happens between them then the kiss. I was surprised at the twist, loved it... but of course the ending really makes you wonder what is going to happen in the next book. Don't they all - but they only have 9 days.

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .
Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.
Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Ok so what do teens do at a halloween party after their costumes come off?? Play with all my toys!! I was sent Fyrflyz. These neat toys that light up and you can do tricks. We've been trying for ages with the young ones to get them to do the tricks... this one just picked it up and went at it lol

These are the things your able to do with it :)

You can get them at Toys R Us for 8.99 - perfect for halloween night OR for xmas stockings!!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I know its been A LONG TIME since I read Wings (book 1) and Spells (book 2) - but I grabbed this while at the university waiting for my ride. Not a bad read and I was able to finally jump back into it, I had forgotten the entire story line lol.

There's a love triangle - Laurel (a faerie) David (a human) and Tamani (another faerie from Avalon) - Laurel has to choose 1 or the other, or neither for her own saniti and theirs.

The author introduces another character Yuki - Japanese exchange student - well we all know she's not, we know she's a faerie - but we don't know if she's innocent or evil, a spring or winter faerie. Tamani takes the time to get to know her and track her to try and find out... you wait til the end of the book to get any idea AND UMM I'm PISSED how it stopped... seriously... I kept going back and trying to see if I missed a page or two lol. Just smacks you in the face and it ends.

Good book though. Now that I'm back into it, can't wait for the next one! Destined is due out 4/28/12

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

My Review:

Riley is in a love triangle (sorta) when we leave the first book. In this one she looses one and really falls for another. Leaving the third totally twisting in the end (but we all know we want them together!!). I was really surprised at Ori - the level the author took it too with their relationship. WOW - shows you what men can really be like.

Not a lot of killing per say in this book - more of the story line laying out and getting all the facts and other characters introduced. From the witches, necromancers and the auction... I'd be a little twisted up with emotions and that's what gets Riley going in this book.

I held on and didn't let go til it was over and I want the next book :)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Promgirl.net is the perfect place to go - not only for prom but any any dress. They offer a wide selection of prom dresses, formal gowns and accessories; and have been in business online since 1999.

Take a peek at Amber in one of their dresses. This one is from their Short Prom Dresses selection.

LOL don't mind the miss matched socks, she was so eager to try it on. We even got a smile!

I'm impressed, not easily done with a prom dress. We've gone to Debs, Department stores and so on. The zippers break, the sequins falls off... they are SEE THROUGH!! OMG I won't go on.

Promgirl.net has high quality items! There is almost 6 layers under that skirt!! Tons of tulle that has a finished edge, a colored skirt, a white skirt... She never once complained that it itched. LOL The stitching is great... did I mention her dress from the other night has already started to tear! Not this one, its got tons of comfort lining and its sewn beautifully.

The straps to hold the dress up are even nice lol.

Ok enough about me going on and on about the dress... follow the links and check out the dresses!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

As moms, we do everything we can to provide our children with a good life, filled with happiness and lots of opportunities. But when was the last time you stopped to think about how your family would manage without you? It's not a pleasant thought to ponder, but if your family depends on you, it's a topic you can't afford to ignore.

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to think about protecting the most important people in our lives. The nonprofit LIFE Foundation sponsors Life Insurance Awareness Month in response to the growing problem of too many families not having adequate life insurance protection. According to the industry research group LIMRA, 11 million U.S. households with children under age 18 have no coverage. Those families are just one illness or accident away from a financial crisis, and something needs to be done about it. That's why LIFE has created the "Insure Your Love Picture Mosaic" in support of Life Insurance Awareness Month.

The "Insure Your Love Picture Mosaic" is designed to recognize and celebrate those who have made the responsible decision to protect their loved ones by owning life insurance, while also introducing them to a larger community of others who have made the same choice. People are encouraged to upload up to 20 photos of their loved ones, whose financial future has been safeguarded by their decision to purchase life insurance.

By adding your photos to the mosaic, you will also be helping out a great cause. For each photo uploaded, $1 will be donated to the LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program, which provides tuition assistance to students who have lost a parent and are struggling to achieve their dream of a college education.

Go do it today!! And post yours on facebook!!

*Discloser - I received a gift card as part of a promotional program with the LIFE Foundation and MomSelect

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Ok this was too cute! I love this and it was easy to do too. They sent a muffin pan, mitt, cupcake holders, notecards and three of their new fun da-middles mixes. We made one and gave the other two away.

Step 1 - make the mix like normal and you see the frosting packet on the left side.

Pour a little batter...

Add a little frosting...

Pour a little more batter... and really even if its not even and perfect, they love them!

And I had to quickly take pictures before they were all gone... they were fantastic!! Less messy too :)